Shotlist

Conventional wisdom has it that offices are nicer, cleaner and more civilized workplaces than factories. Look again. Bright Young Newcomer paints a picture of a generic, undistinguished office populated by feuding women and a laissez-faire male boss content to bask passively in his superior status. Reinforcing countless stereotypes and answering more questions than it asks, this film ignores the real issues in the office: gender and power.

03:34:25
VO: "You know, sometimes I feel sorry for people who have to run an office setup, especially if it employs a number of girls. So many petty things can develop, out of nothing!"
03:37:17
Scene of office with three women working
VO: "That's how the situation began. A little friction between a competent old employee and an intelligent, experience new one."
Two women stand at file cabinet
03:37:27
Betty goes to boss to complain
03:37:44
Boss: "What's the matter Betty?"
Betty: "It's the new girl, Joan Thomas. Just because she's been to college and worked a couple of other places she tries to lord if over everyone. Everything we do is inefficient."



Ken Smith sez: This film shows what happens when a "college-educated" woman joins the secretarial pool. Perky "Joan" has a lot of new ideas, but office veteran "Betty" feels threatened. "Mr. Barnes" (who also plays the physiologist in None For The Road) is left to straighten out the situation. Sexist to be sure, but Take A Letter -- From A To Z is better.

Offices Office workers Workers (office) Workers (women) Workers (clerical) Women (office workers) Workers (white-collar) Supervisors Managers Human resources Efficiency Sexism Gender roles Secretaries Water coolers Adding machines Office machines Supervision Youth vs. experience Experience vs. youth Patronage Behavior
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